Revising The Population Act Of Nineteen Hundred And Seventy-One

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of the Revised Population Act of the Philippines

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- The government declares a national program of family planning involving public and private sectors, respecting religious beliefs and values, to further national development, increase economic progress, and address high population growth.

Commission on Population (POPCOM) (Sections 3-10):
- An agency under the Office of the President is created, called the Commission on Population (POPCOM), to carry out the purposes and objectives of the decree.
- Purposes and objectives of POPCOM (Section 4):
    - Formulate long-term plans, programs, and recommendations on population related to economic and social development.
    - Conduct demographic studies and propose policies affecting population goals.
    - Organize programs to promote understanding of adverse effects of unlimited population growth.
    - Propose policies and programs to guide labor force participation, internal migration, and spatial distribution of population.
    - Make family planning part of a broad educational program.
    - Encourage adoption of safe and effective family planning methods, except abortion.
    - Establish contact with international organizations concerned with population problems.
    - Provide family planning services as part of overall health care.
    - Make available all acceptable methods of contraception, except abortion, to Filipino citizens.
- Duties and powers of POPCOM (Section 5):
    - Employ and train health workers to provide and administer acceptable methods of contraception.
    - Undertake action projects and enter into contracts or agreements for implementation.
    - Conduct studies and investigations on Philippine population.
    - Utilize clinics, pharmacies, and other commercial channels for distribution of family planning information and contraceptives.
    - Utilize government agencies for assistance.
- Board of Commissioners (Sections 6-9):
    - Composed of Secretaries of Education and Culture, Health, Social Welfare, Dean of UP Population Institute, and Director-General of NEDA.
    - Powers and duties include adopting policies, approving project proposals, approving budget, and performing duties assigned by the President.
    - Chairman elected from among members, with powers and duties including presiding over meetings, disbursing funds, appointing personnel, submitting annual report, accepting gifts/donations, and constituting committees.
    - Board meetings held at least once every four months, with quorum of three members and unanimous vote required for valid decisions.
- Executive Director (Section 10):
    - Appointed by the Chairman and approved by the Board.
    - Responsible for day-to-day operations, program progress review, budget estimates, and recommending policies and programs.
- Personnel (Section 11):
    - POPCOM shall have necessary personnel, with positions subject to Civil Service rules and regulations, except for technical, professional, policy-determining, or confidential positions.
    - Personnel entitled to government employee benefits, with merit and efficiency as basis for appointment and promotion.
    - POPCOM as final authority on appeals for professional and technical personnel.
- Donations (Section 12):
    - POPCOM authorized to receive grants, donations, or gifts, to be administered, obligated, and disbursed according to terms or Board's discretion.
- Appropriations (Section 13):
    - 15 million pesos appropriated annually as operating funds for POPCOM starting fiscal year 1974.
    - 350,000 dollars (equivalent) as annual contribution to United Nations Fund for Population Activities, with at least 75% used to finance approved population projects in the Philippines.
    - Appropriation may be increased or decreased in succeeding years by POPCOM.
- Repeal, Separability, and Effectivity (Sections 14-16):
    - Inconsistent acts, statutes, rules, and regulations are repealed.
    - If any part is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions remain unaffected.
    - The decree takes effect immediately.